Flustered Cong talks to UPA members

A rattled Congress has began consultations with UPA constituents following the Left threat to the government on the Indo-US nuclear deal with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee meeting RJD chief Lalu Prasad.

Comapany Affairs Minister P C Gupta accompanied Prasad in the discussions where Defence Minister A K Antony, Home Minister Shivraj Patil and HRD Minister Arjun Singh were also present.

The meeting is understood to have deliberated upon the future course of action in the wake of Left parties' warning of "serious consequences" to the government if the nuclear deal was operationalised.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi are expected to hold confabulations with leaders of UPA constituents at a meeting here on Sunday.